I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Kings 8-9.

    King Jehoshaphat of Judah had been good friends of King Ahab of Israel and arranged for his son to marry Ahab’s daughter (or perhaps sister or niece, my understanding is that the Hebrew in the different places she is referred to is inconsistent and no one is quite sure if the different words used necessarily mean different things). Jehoram, the son in question, followed the practices of Ahab, rather than the practices of his father. I think this supports what I wrote yesterday about religious belief and practice among the people of Judah and Israel. Many of the people of that time and place did not see Baal worship as a separate religion from the worship of God. Jerhoram’s son, Ahaziah, followed in his footsteps in promoting the worship of Baal in Judah.

    I find this passage a fascinating insight into the military and political structure of ancient Israel. King Joram went to war against King Hazael of Aram (Syria) with the assistance of King Ahaziah of Judah (his nephew). Yet, at the same time, Jehu, one of his army commanders was in Ramoth-gilead (which was in what is now Jordan) with a number of other army commanders and sufficient troops to launch a coup. The triggering factor for Jehu’s rebellion was a prophetic message he received from a messenger sent by Elisha. A motivating factor in Jehu’s rebellion against King Joram, Ahab’s son, was his opposition to the idolatry, specifically Baal worship, which Ahab had introduced because of the influence of Jezebel. Jehu perceived himself as acting to fulfill the prophecies which Elijah had made against Ahab and his family.